Amazon Frogbit Amazon Frogbit, botanically Limnobium laevigatum, is a popular South American floating plant producing rounded, glossy leaves with spongy undersides that float in spreading colonies across the water surface. One of the most commonly recommended floating plants for tropical freshwater aquariums — it provides excellent natural shading, efficient nutrient absorption, and practical fry and shrimp cover with minimal management requirements. Care tip: Amazon Frogbit is a floating plant that grows on the water surface without substrate. Avoid strong surface agitation and thin regularly to prevent complete surface coverage. Temperatures between 70–82°F support healthy growth. Like American Frogbit, Amazon Frogbit multiplies through daughter plantlets on short runners, gradually spreading across the water surface. Surface agitation should be kept moderate — strong flow can submerge and damage the glossy floating leaves. The roots hang gracefully below the surface, providing natural habitat for fry and shrimp while absorbing nutrients from the water column. This easy plant requires no CO₂ supplementation and grows across a wide range of lighting from low to high. The temperature range of 70 to 82°F reflects warm-tropical preference appropriate for standard freshwater aquariums. A pH of 6.0 to 7.5 provides comfortable conditions. Regular thinning prevents excessive surface coverage. In the aquascape, Amazon Frogbit provides natural, manageable surface coverage with a naturally rounded, glossy-leaved aesthetic that creates a pleasant, pond-like surface atmosphere. In open-top aquariums the spreading colonies create a beautiful natural surface display. In shrimp and fry tanks the dangling roots create ideal habitat close to the surface where small organisms naturally congregate. Amazon Frogbit is an easy-care, naturally attractive, and practically useful South American floating plant for tropical freshwater aquariums. Its rounded glossy leaves, manageable growth, and natural fry shelter make it one of the most universally recommended floating plants for standard tropical setups. Care & Specifications Difficulty Easy Placement Floating Max Height Floating inches Light Level Low to Moderate Temperature 70–82°F pH 6.0–7.5 CO2 Needs Not Required Origin South America Notes Provides surface cover and shade. Easy to propagate, rapid grower.
